MIDDLESBROUGH boss Garry Monk appears to have shut the door on former club Leeds United’s hopes of landing striker Rudy Gestede.

Monk says he has little intention of selling the striker, with Leeds having reportedly made a £6m offer for the tall striker following the sale of Chris Wood to Burnley on Sunday.

Gestede moved to Middlesbrough from Aston Villa in January but failed to make his mark in the Premier League and the North Yorkshire club were relegated back to the Championship.

Monk said the targetman still had a role to play at the Riverside. “He’s an important player,” he said. “He is an integral player to what we are doing here. We do not want to lose the players that are here right now.”

Despite Monk’s comments it is expected that Leeds are preparing an improved bid to test Boro’s resolve over the former Villa striker.